Best Beaches on the Costa Blanca 2026
From sweeping golden sands in Alicante to dramatic hidden coves north of Benidorm — this is your complete guide to Spain's most dazzling coastline. With a little planning (and ideally a hire car for the secret spots), you'll find yourself on a beach most tourists never discover.
Costa Blanca — over 200 km of some of Europe's most beautiful coastline
🏖️ Playa San Juan — Alicante's Best Beach
Playa San Juan is the beach people come back to year after year. Seven kilometres of fine white sand, a promenade lined with restaurants and beach bars, and a direct TRAM connection from Alicante city centre — this is Costa Blanca's most complete all-round beach for a family holiday.
Playa San Juan — 7 km of golden sand with a vibrant promenade and palm trees
The beach sits 7 km north of the city centre and is served by TRAM Line 1 (15 min, approx. €1.50). In peak season, arriving before 10:00 AM is strongly advisable to secure a good spot — though with 7 km of beach, there's almost always room. Free parking is available outside July and August. For the full lowdown on facilities, maps, and nearby restaurants, check our dedicated Alicante beaches guide.
🌊 Levante Beach — Benidorm's Buzzing Shoreline
Benidorm is Costa Blanca's famous resort town, and Playa de Levante is the beating heart of it. A 2 km stretch of sand flanked by an iconic skyline, packed with water sports, beach bars, and an electric atmosphere from morning to midnight. If you want action and convenience all in one place, this is it.
Getting from Alicante to Benidorm is easy — the TRAM takes around 40 minutes and costs under €3. Read our full guide on how to get from Alicante Airport to Benidorm for all transport options including buses, taxis, and private transfers.
🌅 Poniente Beach — The Family Side of Benidorm
Poniente is Benidorm's quieter, broader western beach — 3 km of sand with a more relaxed, family-oriented character compared to the buzz of Levante. Many Scandinavian and British families with young children gravitate here precisely because the atmosphere is a notch calmer, the water is shallow, and the sunsets looking out over the sea are genuinely stunning.
- 3 km of fine sand with a wide, well-maintained promenade
- Lifeguards on duty throughout summer, children's play areas, and accessible entry points
- Faces west, making it the best spot in Benidorm for evening sunsets
- Combine with a visit to Parque de Elche nearby for a complete day out
🏔️ Albir — The Hidden Gem Between Benidorm and Altea
Albir is the open secret of Costa Blanca. A Blue Flag-certified pebble beach with crystal-clear turquoise water, backed by mountains and a nature reserve, with a gorgeous promenade full of international restaurants and a relaxed, upscale feel — and yet it's just a 10-minute TRAM ride from Benidorm. Think of it as the more sophisticated, grown-up alternative.
Albir — a peaceful pebble beach with a beautiful promenade and a thriving international community
- Water quality is consistently among the best on the entire Costa Blanca
- Free parking available on the outskirts of town (paid in July–August)
- Pack water shoes — the bottom is pebble and stone
- The late-afternoon walk up to Lighthouse Punta de l'Albir is absolutely worth it for the views
- The promenade restaurants are noticeably better quality than the typical tourist strip
🎨 Altea — The Romantic Clifftop Town
Altea isn't just a beach stop — it's a complete experience. The whitewashed old town climbs a hillside above the sea, crowned by a blue-domed church tower and crisscrossed with cobblestone lanes full of art galleries and tapas bars. The beach itself is a mix of pebble and sand with clear water, and the overall atmosphere is quietly romantic in a way that's rare on this stretch of coast.
- Walk up to the old town (Casco Antiguo) — the views from the church square at sunset are unforgettable
- Pebble beach — water shoes recommended
- Excellent seafood restaurants along the seafront promenade
- Only 5 minutes by TRAM from Albir, making the two easy to combine in one day
🚗 Unlock the Secret Coves — Hire a Car on the Costa Blanca
The most jaw-dropping beaches on the Costa Blanca — Cala Granadella, Cala Moraig, and Playa de Borumbot — simply can't be reached without a car. Hiring one from Alicante Airport gives you the freedom to explore hidden coves, charming villages, and the wild northern coastline entirely on your own schedule.
🔍 Compare Car Hire Prices — from approx. €10/day💎 Cala Granadella — Costa Blanca's Most Beautiful Cove
Cala Granadella is the kind of beach you describe to people back home and they simply don't believe you. Turquoise water so clear you can see the bottom at 5 metres depth, towering pine-covered cliffs rising on both sides, and a setting so dramatic it looks like a film location. It's located 80 km north of Alicante near Jávea, which means a hire car is essential — but few experiences on this coast reward the effort so completely.
Cala Granadella — Costa Blanca's most dramatic and picturesque cove, straight out of a postcard
Hiring a car is the only practical way to reach Granadella. Book via Discovercars.com to compare prices from Hertz, Europcar, Sixt, and local suppliers at Alicante Airport all in one search. Combine the trip with a stop in Jávea and Dénia for a perfect full-day road trip along the northern Costa Blanca.
🗺️ Hidden Coves — Off the Tourist Trail
Got a hire car and want to escape the crowds entirely? Here are three coves almost no tourists ever find:
- Cala del Moraig (Benitachell): A spectacular snorkelling beach with an impressive sea cave that you can swim into. The only access is on foot from a small car park — arrive early as spaces fill by 9:30 AM in summer.
- Playa de Borumbot (Moraira): A little-known sandy cove in a sheltered bay, popular with locals and almost invisible on tourist maps. The water is flat calm and excellent for children.
- Cala Pinets (Calpe): A small rocky cove right at the base of the iconic Peñón de Ifach rock formation. The snorkelling beneath the cliff face is genuinely extraordinary.
Planning a full day trip from the city? Our 3-day Alicante itinerary shows you exactly how to fit these coves into a wider road trip along the coast.
🚗 Hiring a Car on the Costa Blanca — Practical Tips
A hire car transforms your Costa Blanca holiday. Most of the coastline's best beaches are either impractical or impossible to reach by public transport. Here's how to get the best deal:
- Book via Discover.com to compare Hertz, Europcar, Sixt, Enterprise, and local suppliers side by side in one search
- A compact car costs from around €10–15/day outside July–August peak season
- Pick up at Alicante Airport (ALC) — largest selection and most competitive pricing
- Always choose the full-to-full fuel option to avoid inflated pre-purchase fuel charges
- Parking at Cala Granadella costs €4–6/day and is completely full by 10:00 AM in July–August — plan accordingly
- A Spanish motorway vignette (AP-7 toll) applies on some northern stretches — budget an extra €2–4 each way
🏖️ Ready to Find Your Dream Beach?
From the city sands of Postiguet to the remote beauty of Cala del Moraig, a hire car opens up the entire Costa Blanca. Compare prices from all major suppliers and book securely via Discovercars.com — it takes two minutes and could save you a lot.
🚗 See Car Hire Prices from Alicante Airport📊 Costa Blanca Beach Comparison
| Beach | Type | Best For | Getting There | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Playa San Juan | 7 km sand | Families, all-round | TRAM 15 min | Moderate |
| Levante, Benidorm | 2 km sand | Young adults, water sports | TRAM 40 min | Very busy |
| Poniente, Benidorm | 3 km sand | Families, sun & swimming | TRAM 40 min | Moderate |
| Albir | Pebble | Couples, nature lovers | TRAM 35 min | Relaxed |
| Altea | Pebble & sand | Couples, culture | TRAM 40 min | Quiet |
| Cala Granadella | Cove, pebble | Couples, snorkelling | Car hire essential | Packed in July |
| Cala del Moraig | Cove, rocks | Snorkelling, adventure | Car hire essential | Little-known |
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best beach on the Costa Blanca overall?
For sand, facilities, and ease of access, Playa San Juan in Alicante is hard to beat. For sheer natural beauty, Cala Granadella near Jávea is in a class of its own — but you'll need a hire car. Families with young children will be happiest at Playa San Juan or Poniente in Benidorm thanks to calm, shallow water and great infrastructure.
Do I need to hire a car to enjoy Costa Blanca beaches?
Not necessarily. Playa San Juan, Levante, Poniente, and Albir are all reachable by TRAM from Alicante without a car. However, for the most spectacular hidden coves — Granadella and Cala del Moraig — a hire car is the only realistic option. Compare prices at Discovercars.com to find the best deal.
When is the best time to visit Costa Blanca beaches?
June and September are the sweet spot: sea temperatures reach 23–26 °C, air temperatures sit at a comfortable 26–28 °C, and the beaches are significantly less crowded than in July and August. That said, even July and August are manageable if you arrive early and target lesser-known spots.
Are there child-friendly beaches near Benidorm?
Yes — Poniente Beach in Benidorm is the most family-friendly option, with gently shelving, shallow water that's ideal for small children. Playa San Juan in Alicante is equally good. For getting to Benidorm, read our guide on transport from Alicante Airport to Benidorm.
Is Alicante or Benidorm better as a base for beach holidays?
Alicante is better if you want a mix of city life, culture, shopping, and beach access — with excellent transport links for day trips. Benidorm is better if you want maximum beach time, all-inclusive options, and a lively resort atmosphere. Many visitors split their stay between both.
Updated: June 2026. Beach facilities, parking fees, and transport schedules can change between seasons — always check official sources before you travel. Some links on this page are affiliate links, meaning we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Images: Solrute.com archive and Unsplash (free for commercial use).
